Lasting machine



March 17, 1953 J. T. LANCASTER 2,631,309

LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l r 10 x 3 /Ed 6 r 1 16 a P a, Inventor M [4 5 v JohnfZ Lancasfer' y hi Affor-rzey March 17, 1953 J. T. LANCASTER LASTING MACHINE 2 SHEETSSHEET Filed Sept. so, 1948 Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STAT PATE 21631309 sesame MACHINE john Lancaster; "Newts Mass; assigns-151d- United Shoe Machinery Corporation; Fleming? t'on, N; J.,' a corporation of NeWJersey Application september 30, 1948, Serial-No. 51 981 2'2 claims. (01. 12 123) This invention relates to lastingmachi'nes,. and more particularly to machines for lasting end portions of shoes. The invention i hereinshown as. embodied in means for lasting the toe ends of shoes, for which use such means isespecially well adapted, but in some aspects the inventionis also applicable toheel-end lasting,

In lastingthe toe ends of shoes it: is the eonmon' practice to use a pair of wipers which are shaped to conform-to the contour'of theedge at a lastbottom pattern corresponding to a shoe- 0f a given style and size. Although thi has been regarded as the most satisfactory manner of shaping such wipers, it will be evident thatin operating on a; shoe of that style and size the wipers, because of the added thickness of the upper materials, will notcontorm exactly to the contour of the upper opposite the edge face of the insole and in the case of a Goodyear welt shoe will not conform exactly to the contour of the'upstanding margin of the upperpressed i'nwardly against the usual-lip or shoulder onthe insole: at some distancefrom its edger l-n the wiping of the upper heightwise-of the last, moreover, commonly known: as the upwiping operation, the approach to conformity otthe wipers to the contour of the upperaround the toe end of. the lastwill'vary atdifferent distances from the'edge of the-insole. Since, also, iti'sthe common: practice,..for the sake oi economy, to use the samewipers in lasting ShOlzS Qi several different sizes; it-will= beevident; that they will notfit. some of. the shoes sowell; a1 =,:ot1riersr In fact,- moreover, that for shoes which differ substantially in styleor size difieijentlyformed wipers are commonly required adds substantially to the cost'of machine equipment;-

It is an object of thepresentinventiontopro vid wiping: means which will conformitself to the different contours of difierentportions of a shoe andto the contours of shoes of different styles and sizes; thus improving" the results obtained inthe lasting operation, saving;the time required. for. changing wipers and reducing the expense of the equipment. To this-end, the construction herein shown comprises a-- novel wiper formed ofresiliently fiexiblematerial and arranged toextendcontinuously around the end of the shoes To permit such a flexible wiper to be properly controlled in the; upw-iping. operation and: in thereafter pressing the upper heightwise ofthe last on the margin-of the insole; it-is-so formed that it extends a substantial distance outwardl tfrcIm the shoe;.-.,i ts outer portion: being while the first=mentioned form 'oi' wipei "member to permit them-to swine; lerfgt 2 wiperi support which faceeacii other he of the shoe and relativei'y'towhic th slidingl'y movable lengthwise and widthwise qfi shoe iii-the lasting operation. As mane: herein illustrated, the" outer portion of'tli'e iwiiaer thus confined isrectangular in planesinter:- secting it transversely of the edge of the bottom,.. while its inner portion forms an angle in such planesto'provide a-wipi edge'for en agement with the-upper Each native forms of wiper so shaped a shown is" of hollow" construction" to reces extending through it 'l'engthw edge of the shoe bottom,'.one"sucl'r f0 ing' a coil spring" made" of a r etan gu material formedto produce the angularshape above described'a'fid the-other formcor'x'i" an elongated hollow member" hayinea-s slits extending part way throughi infld transverse to the edge of" the" shoe b'otto increase its: flexibility. fornr'of w-i operated by"m'e"ans directlyconnected" site ends for moving it bodily length shoe and fdr flexing it widtliwise of ates anucontroiied'by'meafis including? 'fi "bis cableekt'endhi'gthroligh there her The invention further provides noiie mcK iiism forope'ratirig eitherforrn offieiiible-wfi) EZBOVE ds'clibdi Tfie mechanism h eflfi for this purpose comprises a pair oi arms wliiiafi 'aremountedfbr tojdilympvements ine't the shoe" to move" the wiperas-a whole direction'andfor-swin ing movements-each an a'iii's' extendinghei'giitwiseof the shoe -the Wiper" width Wise of thes'hoe'; togetherspring 'nieans controlling the'ar'nis and responsets resistance of the 'shoe th movement oft-he swinging 'mdvemfe: arm iridepend'entlirof the other: Mo e p iariy, as" herein illustrated, the a" mounted on other-armswhich' extend e shoe" and are carried 'bodilylengt the shoe by an" operating niefmbe'rithese being 'pivota lly mounted off the o" the shoe but being normally neiii eats pTer'identIyof the other; against such swih movementb'y"springmeanswliichflisy "1 response-to resistanceofthe'shdeto bo'miy'ineve ment or the'first nientioned arms: 'rrieswmgifig movements of the first-mentioned arffisto thewiper-are effected camme'a'ns acting. on

the arms in response to} theirbodily lenethwiseotthe -shbe throueh pringswlw independently yieldable in response to resistance of the shoe to the swinging of the arms.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is mainly a plan view, with parts broken away, showing toe-lasting means in which novel features of the invention are embodied;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line IIII of Fig. 1, showing the relation of the wiper to a shoe of the Goodyear welt type substantially at the beginning of the upwiping operation;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 showing the relation of the wiper to the shoe at the end of the upwiping operation and at the end of the operation of wiping the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole respectively;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but showing an alternative form of wiper;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 2 on the line VIVI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4' but showing the alternative wiper; and

Fig. 8 shows a portion of the alternative wiper in plan as it appears at a certain stage in its manufacture.

The invention is herein shown, for purposes of illustration, as embodied in means adapted for use in a modification of a bed-lasting machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,018,477, granted on February 27, 1912, on an application of Matthias Brocks. A machine of that type includes a toe wiper support which may be adjusted in various Ways relatively to a shoe positioned bottom upward in the machine and which carries a pair of toe-embracing wipers, the support being moved upwardly by a treadle to cause the wipers, which are held against the upper by a hand lever, to wipe the upper heightwise of the last, i. e., to perform the upwiping operation. By the same treadle, after the wipers have been operated by the hand lever to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole, they are forced downwardly t increase their pressure on the upper over the insole.

" The present invention provides, in place of such a pair of toe-embracing wipers, a flexible wiper constructed and arranged to extend continuously around the toe end of the shoe and to conform itself to the contour of the shoe throughout the toe-lasting operation. This wiper and the means for operating it to press the upper around the toe against the last and to wipe its marginal portion inwardly over the insole are supported as hereinafter described by a plate 2 which, it will be understood, may be secured in any suitable manner to the toe wiper support of a machine of the above-mentioned type. at 4 in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive comprises a coil spring made of a'strip of resiliently flexible material, Ipreferably metal, which is rectangular in cross The form of wiper shown section. In order that such a flexible wiper may be so controlled as to render it properly efiective the upwiping operation and in pressing the up- ,per downwardly on the insole, it is so formed as to extend a substantial distance outwardly from the shoe and its outer portion is engaged by and confined between upper and lower portions 6 :and 8 of a wiper-supporting member l0 which is "formed to extend around the toe and is secured 4 0n the upper ends of a pair of vertical studs l2 fast on the plate 2. The strip of material of which the wiper 4 is made is so formed that the outer portion of the wiper confined as above described is rectangular in planes intersecting it transversely of the edge of the shoe bottom and has flat upper and lower faces engaged by the portions 6 and 8 of the support, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, while its inner portion next to the shoe forms an acute angle in such planes to provide a wipin edge 14 for engagement with the upper. With thewiper curved to embrace the toe as shown in Fig. 1, its wiping edge is practically continuous all around the toe.

To apply the wiper 4 to the upper preparatory to the upwiping'operation and to operate it for wiping the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole it is moved bodily lengthwise of the shoe in sliding engagement with its support 10 and is also flexed widthwise of the shoe. For this purpose there is provided a flexible metal cable [6 extending through the wiper around the toe end of the shoe and secured at its opposite ends to blocks l8 which are pivotally mounted on studs 2!] carried by arms 22 extending generally lengthwise of the shoe. These arms are pivotally mounted on studs 24 for swinging movements widthwise of the shoe, the studs being mounted on the outer ends of other arms 26 which extend widthwise of the shoe and are both pivotally mounted at their inner ends on a vertical stud 28 carried by an operating bar 30 which is slidingly movable lengthwise of the shoe along guideways 32 on upwardly extending portions of the plate 2, the bar extending through an opening in the wiper support I0. Secured to a lug 34 on the bar 30 is a leaf spring 36 the opposite end portions of which bear against the arms 2% to control them with respect to swinging movements about the stud 28, the spring holding the arms normally in positions determined by the engagement of pins 38 on the arms with a crossbar 49 mounted in the stud 28. For moving the bar 39 lengthwise of the shoe there is provided a hand lever 42 pivotally mounted on a stud M on t e Plate 2 and having therein a slot 45 in which is slidingly mounted a block 48, the block being provided with a stud 50 mounted to turn'in the bar 33. It will thus be evident that as the bar 30 is moved toward the shoe it carries th arms 26 and 22 bodily with it and thus moves the wiper 4 as a whole in the same direction to apply it to the shoe prior to the upwiping operation and later to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole. When the resistance of the shoe to the bodily movement of either of the arms 22 and of the corresponding arm 25 becomes great enough the portion of the spring 36 which controls those arms will yield independently of the portion thereof which controls the other arms 22 and 26 in response to continued movement of the bar 30. Provision is thus afforded, regardless of the shape of the shoe, for applying to both ends of the cable lfi'the force required for the best results in the toe-lasting operation.

The swinging movements of "the arms 22 about 'the studs 24 to flex the wiper as required widthwise of the shoe are'effected in response to their bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe. For

same stud 24 and having thereon a roll 54 engaged by a cam 55 fast on the plate 2. A spring '58 connected to the two arms 52 holds the rolls at all times against the cams. Between each arm in of the upper in 22 and the arm 52. associated therewith is a compression spring 60 through which the arm 22 is swung by the arm 52 as the latter is swung by the corresponding cam 56.. It will be evident that either spring 60 is yieldabl'e independently of the other in response to resistance of the shoe to the swinging movement of the corresponding arm 22.

When the hand lever 42 is retracted the arms 52 are swung toward each other by the spring 58 as permitted by the cams 56, and shoulders 62 on these arms engage shoulders 64 on the arms 22 to swing the latter away from the shoe and thus to permit the portions of the resilient wiper at the sides of the toe to spring outwardly. At the'same time the arms 22 are retracted bodily lengthwise of the shoe by the bar 30. To assist in retracting the wiper bodily in the same direction the bar 30 is provided at its inner end with projections 66 which extend inwardly between convolutions of the wiper and engage the inner surfaces'of two of these convolutions.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that in the toe-lasting operation the last- I ing mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is moved upwardly to cause the wiper 4 to perform the upwiping operation by use of the treadle provided for this purpose in a machine of the type to which the invention is shown as applied. The wiper 4 is thus moved from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 3. During this operation the operator, through the hand lever 42, holds the wiper pressed inwardly against the upper, the wiper conforming itself at all times to the contour of the shoe however the contour may vary at different distances from the edge of the shoe bottom. The operator may, as customary, repeat the upwiping operation one or more times while using hand pincers to adjust and control the margin of the upper. Thereafter he further operates the wiper by the hand lever to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole and, if the shoe is one of the Goodyear welt type as shown, to press a portion of the marupstanding position against a lip a. on the insole as illustrated in Fig. 4, the wiper further conforming itself to the contour of the portion of the upper thus pressed against the lip. By use of the treadle the wiper is then forced downwardly to increase its pressure on the portion of the upper between it and the feather of the insole. It will be evident. that, despite its flexibility, the wiper is. held sufficiently rigid heightwise of the shoeby the portions 6 and 8 .of its support 10 both in the upwiping operation and in the pressing of the upper down on the insole.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is shown an alternative form of wiper '68 which may be used instead of the wiper 4 shown in Fig. l. The wiper 68 is made of an elongated hollow member 10 (Fig. 8) of resiliently flexible material, this member being angular in cross section and being provided with a series of slits "extending part way through it crosswise thereof to increase its flexibility. The outer portion of the wiper 6B, confined between the portions 6 and B of the support it similarly to the corresponding portion of the wiper 4 of Fig. 1, thus comprises a series of segments 74 spaced from one another and rectangular in planes transverse to the edge of the shoe bottom. The inner portion of the wiper comprises an inclined strip 16 which is continuous all around the toe and forms an acute angle with the lower portion of. each segment 14 to provide a wiping edge 18 for engagement with the upper. Theopposite ends of the wiper 68 are connectedtotlie arms 22 by studs 80. Accordingly these arms are directly effective to flex the wiper inwardly and to retract it widthwise of the shoe and they also serve in combination with the projections 66 on the bar 30, which engage two of the segments 14, to retract it lengthwise of the shoe. In other respects the manner of operation of the wiper 68 is thesame as that of the wiper 4 shown in Fig. 1.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-of the United States is:

1. In a lasting machine, a one-piece wiper of flexible resilient material arranged to extend continuously around the toe end of the upper of a shoe on a last and conformable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to the contour thereof in response to pressure of the shoe against it, said wiper being angular in cross-section to provide a wiping edge for engagement with the upper, a support for the wiper also arranged to extend around the toe end of the shoe and having portions facing each other heightwise of the shoe for engaging and confining the wiper between them and for thereby rendering it effective to wipe the upper in a direction heightwise of the last and thereafter to press a portion of the upper in the opposite direction upon an insole on the last in response to relative movements of said support and the last, and means for moving the wiper lengthwise of the shoe relatively to the portions of the support thus engaging it and for also flexing it widthwise of the shoe to apply it in corn formity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole.

2. In a lasting machine, a one-piece wiper of flexible resilient materialarranged to extend continuously around the toe end of the upper of a shoe on a last and conformable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to the contour thereof in response to pressure of the shoe against it, said wiper forming an acute angle in cross-section to provide a wiping edge for engagement with the upper, a support for the wiper also arranged to extend around the toe end of the shoe and having portions facing each other heightwise or the shoe for engaging and confining the wiper between them and for thereby rendering it effective to wipe the upper in a direction heightwise of the last and thereafter to press-a portion of the upper in the opposite direction upon an insole on the last in response to relative movements of said support and the last, the wiper having flat faces engaged by said portions of the support, and means for moving the wiper lengthwise of the shoe relatively to the portions of the support thus engaging it and for also flexing it widthwise of the shoe to apply it in conformity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole.

3. In a lasting machine, a one-piece wiper of flexible resilient material arranged to extend continuously around the toe end of the upper of a shoe on a last and conformable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to the contour thereof in response to pressure of the shoe against it, said wiper being hollow to provide a recess therein extending around the toe end of the shoe but closed on the side toward the shoe and forming an acute angle in cross-section to provide a wiping edge for engagement with the upper, a support for the wiper also arranged to. extend around the toe end of the shoe and having portions facing each other heightwise of the shoe for engagingand confining the wiper between them and for thereby rendering it effective to wipe the upper in a direction heightwise of the last and thereafter to press a portion of the upper in the opposite direction upon an insole on the last in response to relative movements of said support and the last, and means for moving the wiper lengthwise of the shoe relatively to the portions of the support thus engaging it and for also flexing it widthwise of the shoe to apply it in conformity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole.

4. In a lasting machine, a wiper comprising a coil spring arranged to extend around the toe end of the upper of a shoe on a last and conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe against it, said spring being formed in angular shape to provide a wiping edge for engagement with the upper, a support for said wiper also arranged to extend around the toe end of the shoe and having portions facing each other heightwise of the shoe for engaging and confining the wiper between them and for thereby rendering it effective to wipe the upper in a direction heightwise of the last and thereafter to press a portion of the upper in the opposite direction upon an insole on the last in response to relative movements of said support and the last, the wiper havin flat faces slidingly engaging said portions of the support, and means for moving the wiper lengthwise of the shoe relatively to said support and for also flexing it widthwise of the shoe to apply it in conformity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardaly over the insole.

5. In a lasting machine, a wiper comprising a coil spring arranged to extend around the toe end of the upper of a shoe on a last and conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe against it, said spring being formed in angular shape to provide a wiping edge for engagement with the upper, a support for said wiper also arranged to extend around the toe end of the shoe and having portions facing each other heightwise of the shoe for engaging and confining the wiper between them and for thereby rendering it effective to wipe the upper in a direction heightwise of the last and thereafter to press a portion of the upper in the opposite direction upon an insole on the last in response to relative movements of said support and the last, a flexible cable extending through the wiper around the end of the shoe,

and means connected to the ends of said cable for moving the wiper bodily lengthwise of the shoe and for flexing it widthwise of the shoe to apply it in conformity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole.

6. In a lasting machine, a wiper of resiliently flexible material arranged to extend continuously around the toe end of the upper of a shoe on a last and conformable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to the contour thereof in response to pressure of the shoe against it, said wiper comprising a hollow member having a series of slits extending part way through it in directions transverse to the edge of the shoe bottom to increase its flexibility, a support for the wiper also arranged to extend around the toe end of the shoe and having portions facing each .other heightwise of the shoe for engaging and confining the wiper between them and for thereby rendering it effective to wipe the upper in adirection heightwise of the last and thereafter to press a portion of the upper in the opposite direction upon an insole on the last in response to relative movements of said support and the last, and means connected to the ends of said wiper for moving it bodily lengthwise of the shoe relatively to said support and for also flexing it widthwise of the shoe to apply it in conformity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole.

7. In a lasting machine, a one-piece wiper of flexible resilient material arranged to extend continuously around the toe end of the upper of a shoe on a last and conformable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to the contour thereof in response to pressure of the shoe against it, said wiper being angular in cross-section to provide a wiping edge for engagement with the upper, a support for the wiper also arranged to extend around the toe end of the shoe and having portions facing each other heightwise of the shoe for engaging and confining the wiper between them and for thereby rendering it effective to wipe the upper in a direction heightwise pf the last and thereafter to press a portion of the upper in the opposite direction upon an insole on the last in response to relative movements of said support and the last, a pair of arms mounted for bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe and also for swinging movements each about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe, and means for moving the wiper as a whole lengthwise of the shoe relatively to the portions of the support thus engaging it by the bodily movements of said arms and for also flexing it by the swinging movements of the arms to apply it in conformity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole.

8. In a lasting machine, a Wiper of flexible material for wiping the toe end of the upper of a shoe on a last heightwise of the last and for wiping the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over an insole on the last, said wiper being arranged to extend continuously around the toe end of the shoe and. being conformable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to the contour thereof in response to pressure of the shoe against it, a pair of arms mounted for bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe to move the wiper as a whole in that direction and for swinging movements each about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe to flex the wiper widthwise of the shoe, and operating means for thus moving said arms to apply the wiper in conformity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole, aid operating means including ortions associated respectively with the different arms and each yieldable independently in response to resistance of the shoe to the bodily movement of the arm associated therewith.

9. In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material for wiping the toe end of the upper of shoe on a last heightwise of the last and for wiping the marginal portion of the upper in Wardly over an insole on the last, said wiper being arranged to extend continuously around the toe end of the shoe and being conformable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to the contour thereof in response to pressure of the shoe against lengthwise of the shoe to mQve the wiper as a 'than'the wiper-to flex the wiper widthwise of the shoe, and operating means for thus moving said arms to apply the Wiper in conformity to the contour of the shoe and to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole,

said operating means including portions associated respectively with the different arms and *each yieldable independently in'response to resistance of-the shoe to the swinging movement of the arm associated therewith.

10. In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position, said wiper being flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to conform to the contour thereof, a pair'of members mounted for bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe to move the Wiper as a whole in that direction and for swinging movements each :material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position, said wiper being flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to conform to the contour thereof, a pair of rms mounted for bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe to move the wiper as a whole in that direction'and for swinging movements each about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe in a location farther from the shoe than the wiper to flex the wiper widthwise of the shoe, and operating means for thus'm'oving said arms to operate the wiper, said operating means including an operating member movable lengthwise of the shoe and spring means controlled by said member for imparting the bodily movements to the arms, said spring means being yieldable in response to resistance of the shoe to the bodily movements of the arms.

12. In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position, said Wiper being flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to conform to the contour thereof, a pair of arms mounted for bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe to move the wiper as a Whole in that direction and for swinging movements each about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe to flex the wiper widthwise of the shoe, and operating means for thus moving said arms to operate the wiper, said operating means including an operating member movable lengthwise of the shoe and spring means controlled by said member for imparting the bodily movements to the arms, said spring means being yieldable in response to resistance of the shoe to the bodily movement of either arm independently of the other.

13. In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for Wiping the upper into lasted position, said wiper being flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to conform to the contour thereof, a pair of arms mounted for bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe to move the wiper as a whole inthat direction and for swinging movements each about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe to flex the wiper widthwise of the hoe, and operating means for thus moving said arms to operate the wiper, said operating means including an operating member movable lengthwise of the shoe and carrying the arms and spring means also'carrie'd by said member and controlling the arms, said spring means being yieldable in response to resistance of the shoe to the bodily movement :of either arm independently of the other.

14.In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material arranged to extend continuouslyfarour-i'd an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position, said wiper bein'g flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe-to conform to the contour thereof, a pair of arms arranged to extend lengthwise of theshoe fo'r operating the wiper, another pair of arms' -anranged to extend widthwise of the shoe and-on which said first-named arms are pivotallymounted for swinging movements widthwise of the-shoe to flex the wiper, and means for moving said other arms bodily lengthwise of the shoe to cause the first-named arms to move the wiper as-a whole in that, direction, said other arms being mounted to swing yieldingly each about'an axis extending heightwise of the shoe in response to resistance of the shoe to such movement'o'fthe wiper.

15. In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last'for wiping the upper into lasted position, said wiper being flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe-to conform to the contour thereof, a pair'of arms arranged to extend lengthwise of theshoefor operating the wiper, another pair of arms arranged to extend widthwise of the shoe and on which said first-named arms are pivotally mounted for swinging movements widthwise of the shoe to flex the wiper, an operating member movable to carry said other arms bodily lengthwise "of the shoe to cause the first-named arms to move the wiper as a whol'e'in that direction, the otherarms being pivotally mounted on said operating-member to swing lengthwise of the shoe, and spring means arranged to permit such swinging of the other arms in the lasting operation only in response to resistance of the shoe to the movement of the Wiper.

16. In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position, said wiper being flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to conform to the contour thereof, a pair of arms mounted for bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe to move the wiper as a whole in that direction and for swinging movements each about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe to flex the wiper widthwise of the shoe, means for imparting the bodily movements to the arms, and additional means for swinging the arms in response to their bodily movements, said additional means including portions yieldable in response to resistance of the shoe to the swinging of the arms.

17. In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position, said wiper being flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to conform to the contour thereof, a pair of arms 'mounted for bodily shoe to move the wiper as a whole in that direction and for swinging movements each about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe to flex the movements lengthwise of the wiper widthwise of the shoe, means for imparting '18. In a lasting machine, a wiper of flexible material arranged to extend continuously around -.an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper, into lasted position, said wiper being flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe to conform to the contour thereof, a pair of arms -mounted for bodily movements lengthwise of the shoe to move the wiper as a whole in that direction and for swinging movements each about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe to flex the wiper widthwise of the shoe, means for imparting the bodily movements to the arms, cam means relatively to which the arms are thus bodily movable for swinging them in response to their bodily movements, members arranged to be operated by said cam means thus to swing the arms, and

springs for transmitting movement from members to the arms.

19. In a lasting machine, a wiper comprising a hollowmember of resiliently flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end said ' of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position, said member being of angular contour in planes extending transversely of the edge of the shoe bottom to provide a wiping edge for engagement with the upper and having in locations farther outward than its wiping edge a series of spaced-apart portions angular in cross section lengthwise of the edge of the shoe bottom and relatively movable lengthwise of the edge of the shoe bottom in response to flexure of the member in the wiping operation.

20. In a lasting machine, a wiper of resiliently flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position, said wiper comprising a coil spring made of a strip of material angular in cross-section and formed in angular shape to provide a wipin edge for engagement with the upper.

21. In a lasting machine, a wiper of resiliently flexible material for wiping an end portion of an upper into lasted position, said wiper comprising a one-piece hollow member thus resiliently flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe and formed to extend continuously around the end of the shoe, said member having a series of slits extending only part way through it in directions transverse to the edge of the shoe bottom to increase its flexibility.

22. In a lasting machine, a wiper of resiliently flexible material arranged to extend continuously around an end of the upper of a shoe on a last for wiping the upper into lasted position,said wiper comprising a hollow member thus resiliently flexible lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe and having a series of slits extending part way through it in directions transverse to the edge of the shoe bottom to increase its flexibility, and means connected to the opposite ends of said member for moving it bodily lengthwise of the shoe and for flexing it widthwise of the shoe.

JOHN '1. LANCASTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 355,785 Paine et a1 Jan. 11, 1887 1,245,117 Merrick Oct. 30, 1917 1,301,726 Merrick Apr. 22, 1919 2,082,841 Mackensen June 8, 1937 2,274,577 Ashworth et a1 Feb. 24, 1942 2,286,464 Christy June 16, 1942 2,364,057 Burby Dec. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 3,586 Great Britain of 1909 228,196

Switzerland Nov. 1, 1943 

